Membership FAQs

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  1. Why join APA?
  2. What are the APA member levels?
  3. How do I upgrade or downgrade my membership?
  4. How do I join as a student?
  5. How are chapter affiliations determined?
  6. Who is eligible to join APA?
  7. Can I pay by check?
  8. Does APA help provide O-1 Letters of No Objection for USA Visas?
  9. Does APA provide a membership card?
  10. Do APA memberships auto-renew?
  11. How do I update my credit card information?
  12. Does APA offer professional business insurance?
  13. Does APA have partner discounts?
  14. How do I reactivate my APA membership?
  15. How do I cancel my membership?

Q. Why join APA?

APA is a non-profit trade organization built by photographers for photographers. Now in our fourth decade, APA exists to provide business tools and creative inspiration which help photographic artists of all levels run a smarter, more creative, and profitable business.

APA offers education, community, inspiration, and opportunities for networking and social engagement through local chapter activities.

In addition, membership in APA helps keep our profession strong. APA amplifies each of our voices on the national stage and advocates on behalf of all members, keeping the industry dynamic, influential and robust.

Our membership structure gives every photographer, and those affiliated with photography an affordable way to belong to a community of like-minded professionals.

For membership questions, please contact:: membershiprep@apanational.org

Q. What are the APA member levels?

Leader: $500 or $45/month (monthly plan billed in 30-day intervals)
Professional : $350 or $32/month (monthly plan billed in 30-day intervals)
Associate: $225 or $21/month (monthly plan billed in 30-day intervals)
Supporter: $125 or $12/month (monthly plan billed in 30-day intervals)
Contributor: $50

View the membership table with Benefits.

Or, view the Benefits by Member Levels.

For membership questions, please contact:: membershiprep@apanational.org

Q. How do I upgrade or downgrade my membership?

Membership dues are nonrefundable. However, if you are on our Annual pay plan, and you would like to upgrade, we will pro-rate: refund the balance of your current membership; refunds take 5 to 10 days to appear in customer accounts.

To upgrade, please email membershiprep@apanational.org

We will set it up in your APA Profile so you can login, cancel your current membership, select your new level / pay plan, and checkout.

Your Profile will stay intact so you won't have to fill out the registration form again, and you will immediately be able to access your new benefits. 

For membership questions, please contact: membershiprep@apanational.org

Q. How do I join as a student?

Your student status will now be captured as an attribute, so you can join or renew at any level.

For membership questions, please contact:: membershiprep@apanational.org

Q. How are chapter affiliations determined?

When you belong to APA, you are automatically affiliated with an APA chapter based upon the address you list in your Member Profile. This allows you to stay involved at the local level, participate in chapter events, and receive communications and invitations. If you move to a different chapter territory, please log in and update your address, then email membershiprep@apanational.org to request a chapter change.

Anyone can receive Chapter Event Announcements and other Updates from any APA Chapter. Use the sign-up links below:

APA New York
APA Los Angeles
APA San Francisco
APA Chicago
APA Atlanta
APA San Diego
APA Washington DC
APA Charlotte NC

For membership questions, please contact: membershiprep@apanational.org

Q. Who is eligible to join APA?

Anyone anywhere can join APA at any member level.

For membership questions, please contact:: membershiprep@apanational.org

Q. Can I pay by check?

Sorry, no -- we no longer accept checks for dues. It's simpler, more efficient and cost effective to operate the organization through the e-commerce solution built into our website.

For membership questions, please contact: membershiprep@apanational.org

Q. Does APA help provide O-1 Letters of No Objection for USA Visas?

Yes. Please carefully read all of the instructions below.

APA willingly assists international members in documenting their professional status and photographer requirements in your USA Visa application for an Advisory opinion in support of the O-1 petition (letter of no objection) or your Green Card application.

Follow these procedures:

  1. Do not purchase an APA membership until you read and complete step 2.
  2. Contact our National Executive Director, Juliette Wolf-Robin (executivedirector@apanational.org), for approval. Examples of your photographic work are required, and upon APA Reviewer approval, qualified applicants will receive an official statement denoting you are a photographer with exceptional ability.
  3. If you received approval in step 2, purchase an annual Professional ($350) or Leader ($500) membership.
  4. There is a one-time $100 processing fee for either letter after review.

Q. Does APA provide a membership card?

To do our part in reducing plastic worldwide, as of May 1, 2021, APA will no longer be producing and mailing out plastic member ID cards.

If you need to show proof of your APA Membership, you can access your temporary APA Member ID Card by logging in and scrolling to the bottom of your MY APA webpage.  

If you are traveling, consider purchasing an APA Member Pro Media Photo Identification Card, available to Associate, Professional, & Leader members, for just $20.

There are many advantages to having an APA Professional Media Photo Identification Card:

  1. Photo ID validity—Many airlines now only accept Pro Media Cards that contain a headshot.
  2. Our Photo ID is more secure, offers enhanced authenticity, and can expedite airport access.
  3. You will likely receive your APA Pro Media Photo ID Card in under a week.
  4. Use your APA Pro Media Photo ID to facilitate the pro media discount on excess baggage, which is available through many airlines.

Upgrade to our Associate member level or above to take advantage of the APA Pro Media Photo ID Card and other valuable APA Photographer Member level benefits by emailing membershiprep@apanational.org.

Q. Do APA memberships auto-renew?

For your convenience (and, as it states in the required click-through Join page Member terms) APA will continue to auto renew your APA Membership dues subscription until you tell us otherwise.

  • Please verify that your credit card account number and expiration date are current; simply login and click on Edit My Account and / or Update Billing Details (in the right side vertical navigation menu -- the white box with a red stripe on top).
  • A reminder for Annual Renewal charges is sent via email within 30 days prior to renewal.  Please keep your email address current. 
  • You may cancel your auto renew subscription before it renews ONLY by contacting the APA Membership Representative, at least 2 days prior to your auto renew date, only in writing (via email) to membershiprep@apanational.org. An email with the cancellation confirmation will be sent to you.
  • Please do not attempt to cancel your membership by contacting your local chapter.
  • When you cancel your APA membership, you will be removed from Hire an APA Pro, and will no longer be entitled to receive membership benefits and discounts. 

For membership questions, please contact: membershiprep@apanational.org

Q. How do I update my credit card information?

For your security, we don't have any direct access to your credit card info, so we can't update it via the phone for you.

 

Simply please login, and in the right side vertical navigational menu (the white rectangle with a red stripe on top) click on Update Billing Details. This will take you to the secure area where you can update your billing info.

For membership questions, please contact:: membershiprep@apanational.org

Q. Does APA offer professional business insurance?

APA has a dedicated business unit to handle our members' insurance needs. It's business insurance designed by photographers for photographers. As the leading not-for-profit organization serving professional photographers we know the unique demands of this industry. Our insurance agents deal with photographers all day long, have loads of experience and are trained problem solvers. They're not afraid to get in the trenches and hammer our the best insurance plan to fit any business need. Plus, APA Insurance Services (AIS) never charges for COI (proof of insurance certificates), unlike many other companies. Get a free no-obligation quote and compare rates today. More info is here.

(Please note: Insurance is not included in membership -- it's available to members at the Supporter member level and above, and your rates will depend upon the coverage you need).

For membership questions, please contact:: membershiprep@apanational.org

Q. Does APA have partner discounts?

APA Members at the Supporter level and above are entitled to discounts on most Apple products by using the APA Apple Online Store.

Simply login to your MY APA page, and in the right side vertical navigation menu, click on Discount Codes, then click on the APA Apple online store link in the alphabetical list. The prices listed in the APA Apple Online Store include the APA member discount. More info is here.

For membership questions, please contact:: membershiprep@apanational.org

Q. How do I reactivate my APA membership?

To rejoin, simply use the Look Up Account feature in the Join section on our site.
Assuming you were a member after 2014, your APA Member Profile is intact off-line so you won't have to fill out the entire registration form again. Just login, select a member level and payment plan and checkout. All APA Profiles are self-updateable so you can login and make changes anytime. Start here, please:   http://apanational.org/account/check-account/

For membership questions, please contact:: membershiprep@apanational.org

Q. How do I cancel my membership?

Please do not contact your chapter to cancel your membership.

You may cancel your auto renew subscription before it renews ONLY by contacting the APA Membership Representative, at least 2 days prior to your auto renew date, only in writing (by email) to: membershiprep@apanational.org.

An email with the cancellation confirmation will be sent to you. 

When you cancel your APA membership, you will be removed from Hire an APA Pro, and will no longer be entitled to receive membership benefits and discounts. 

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